This month, ACT launched its first podcast, Ready for Work. The podcast focuses on workforce, career education, and economic development. Listeners will learn about how to make our communities more competitive and hear from practitioners working at the grassroots level to strengthen the workforce ecosystem.

Ready for Work is hosted by Jasen Jones, a member of the ACT® Work Ready Communities team. ACT Work Ready Communities empowers states, regions, and countries with data, processes, and tools that drive economic growth. Participants leverage the ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®) to measure and close the skills gap. To-date, over 4.6 million NCRCs have been issued, with nearly 25,000 employers supporting the program.

New episodes will be released every other week. Listen to the first episode below, and never miss an episode by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts.

Episode 1: Role of Economic Development in the Workforce Ecosystem

Episode 1 includes a discussion of the ACT Work Ready Communities model to empower economic developers to assist stakeholders in closing the skills gap and maximizing the value of the workforce.

Jasen talks with Will Coppage, Deputy Director of the Washington County Economic Alliance, about regionalism and alignment of local career education and targeted fast-track training to strengthen the region’s workforce.